Overview
- Toronto edged Oklahoma City 103-101 on the road to move to 29-19 and extend its winning streak to four.
- With about 30 seconds left, Barnes blocked Holmgren’s step-back attempt that could have tied the game and secured the rebound to preserve the lead.
- Barnes posted 10 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists and three blocks, and the Raptors were +15 with him on the floor versus being outscored by 13 when he sat.
- Oddschecker-linked lines reported by Heavy now place Barnes fourth for Defensive Player of the Year, positioning him as a challenger to Holmgren as rivals face availability and form questions.
- The win kept Toronto a half-game ahead of the Knicks for No. 3 in the East and a half-game behind the Celtics for No. 2, as Immanuel Quickley and coach Darko Rajakovic praised Barnes’ defense following the finish.